Strongly believes in India’s story, COVID-19 will continue to expand physically despite obstacles: KFC

According to the apex company, the US-based fast food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) will continue to expand its restaurant network in India despite the coronovirus epidemic leading to structural changes in business. Official.

KFC India, which opened around 30 new restaurants last year, which is looking to add new outlets this year, during the peak of COVID-19-inspired disruptions as it expands the brand’s reach to its consumers.

“We definitely intend to take the brand forward. One of our biggest strategic pillars is what we call Access. We have to ensure that the brand reaches consumers both physically and digitally.

Despite the COVID-19 disruptions, he said, “We actually have more restaurants now than pre-COVID. During the year, our franchise has opened new restaurants. So we’re actually a bigger business now than pre-COVID in terms of number of restaurants. Before the COVID-19 hit, KFC India had a restaurant count of around 450 and currently has more than 480 restaurants in more than 130 cities in India.

“We believe in India’s story a lot and we really have no doubt that India is definitely going to be a growth market for KFC in the coming years.” Certainly, it was a difficult year, but it did not separate us from that intention, ”emphasized Mr. Menon.

From a physical access point of view, he said that the company continuously identifies new business areas and potential areas and starts setting up restaurants there through its franchise partners.

“Physical access is definitely going to be an important part of the development strategy. As the year progresses, the numbers we are trying to chase will have a better meaning. It will definitely be over 25, ”Mr. Menon said.

With an epidemic leading to changes in consumer behavior with online orders and off-premise consumption, he said that KFC India has also intensified its efforts to meet changing consumer needs.

“I think the online share of our business may have increased between pre and post COVID by at least 50% and it has also led to a big change in the way we communicate with consumers, part of the aggregators and part of We have our own property, ”he said.

Giving a sense of how the epidemic has brought about a structural change in the business, Mr. Menon said that more than half of the company’s sales occurred in pre-pandemic times and COVID has seen more than two increases in post-delivery. . -Now the business base is moving from the base including takeaway.

On the other hand, in-premise consumption is yet to fully recover to pre-covid levels and will take longer.

“In some parts trade continues to have an impact on certain parts that are under ban. We are following those restrictions and the draw-in cannot be open all the time…, ”he said.

“In addition, malls and food courts continue to have less footfall than pre-COVID. We have a long journey of recovery in those parts of the business, ”said Mr. Menon.

When asked about the second wave of COVID-19, he said the company is ready for the year with better learning, especially on safety and hygiene protocols for dine-in and through contactless delivery For operation.

“I think consumers have gotten used to the way we’re working now. We’ll make sure that if the dining room is temporarily closed again due to restrictions, That consumers have access to the brand in whatever way they want, ”he said.